While I was away for the holidays Michele Corey, a good friend, found out that she has breast cancer. I have experienced all kinds of emotions since her diagnosis and, ironically, one of the strongest is gratitude. Gratitude for the fact that Michele is a strong woman; she is the type of woman who will best cancer. I am also grateful because instead of isolating herself and withdrawing, she reached out to share her experience and to ask for support. You, too, can read about her experience on her blog Knee Deep.
Michele is one of the two mentors that got me blogging. She is a skilled marketer and effective executive coach and she has cultivated, educated and entertained hundreds of clients, colleagues and friends with her blog. She helped me set up my site. Do share her site with others with breast cancer; they will receive lots of resources and a generous dose of humor! And, if you choose, you can share your wisdom, caring and resources with her.
How does all this relate to Eat, Pray, Love, Plan? Well, like Elizabeth Gilbert through her book "Eat, Pray, Love" Michele is creating her own path to health. Michele reached out to her friends to share her upcoming biopsy and “lumpiness gone very badly,” and an amazing number of women jumped into action. Show women a crisis and they apply the “circle and support” behavior. Within about 48 hours two websites were created to provide encouragement and resources.
So, OK, the order was actually LOVE, PRAY, PLAN, EAT. The EAT part did not come until later, and I wanted to get your attention! About three weeks after the diagnosis, two friends hosted a party for a large circle of friends who want to help. Michele brought us all together to have a chance to see her and to meet one another. And, yes, we did EAT generously!
As Michele reflects in her blog, getting cancer was not in her plan for the year. And, planning is what we humans can do that gives us a sense of purpose and direction even when the direction may change dramatically.
If you are ready to deepen your clarity, gain a sense of purpose and illuminate your direction, join me for a workshop on January 26 Waking Up to the Second Half of Life, Awake, Aware and at Choice. Or, if you would rather do your exploration and planning from the comfort of home join me for a 3-month synergy circle/group coaching to Embrace a New Pace starting in February.
2 Comments
Hey Sandra,
It was fun to see a google alerts for me on your blog! Interestingly I received a copy of Eat, Pray, Love for Christmas and have just finished reading it. It’s a wonderful book that has brought many smiles to my heart as well as has provided support to me as I walk on the bumpy journey of breast cancer.
I definitely loved having my own “eat” and “love” with many girlfriends a few weeks ago to celebrate me. For one of the first times in my life I didn’t feel uncomfortable being the center of attention, in fact I felt comforted and loved by amazing woman.
Cancer has helped me ramp up the gratitude I already feel and it’s a constant reminder that no matter how we plan, life will have surprises and it’s up to us to choose what we beleive, what’s most important and to take action.
I know that all the women that show up in your workshops and teleclasses will be blessed by your own connection to heart and ramping up the second half of life.
I am blessed, thank you for allowing me to be an example, and here’s to a very successful sugery this week.
Love, Michele
Yes, Readers,
This is the Michele I am referring to! She is amazing and is handling this “turn in the road” with great grace, intention and gratitude. May her healing journey be filled with strength, abundant resource and lots of love.
Do join me in sending her good energy, prayers and messages on her blog as she prepares for surgery this Friday morning. Her blog is Knee Deep – see the link in Eat, Pray, Love, Plan….